Colleagues:

We need to advise you that RMT Signal maintainers working for the former Metronet will be taking industrial action for 24 hours starting from 06.45 on Friday 5th of February.

Their dispute is over the imposition of unagreed rosters that change Monday to Friday workers to compulsory weekends

This dispute could have serious implications for the safety of the service that LU will be offering for the duration of the industrial action.

Signal Maintenance staff provides an essential function in the safe operation of our railway: these essential staff deal with track failures, signal failures, broken rails and essential maintenance and repair work. If these employees are taking industrial action then our drivers have the right to know that this could represent a clear and imminent danger to the safety of our staff and passengers alike.

If a serious signal failure were to occur while these staff are taking industrial action, as happened last night on the Bakerloo Line, we could end up with many trains and thousands of passengers stuck in tunnels for long periods of time while agency staff who are unfamiliar with LU equipment or procedures, bussed in to break the strike, try to repair faults.

If management try to tell you that this industrial action will have no bearing on the safe operation of the railway then serious questions must be asked.

It is your legal right to refuse to work on the grounds of safety and your union will support you 100% should you decide to do so.

If you do have a safety concern and you feel that management are ignoring your concerns, contact your local safety rep or members of the Trains Safety Council for further clarification or information.

Jim McDaid – 07510-799335 Dave Rayfield – 07719-132161 Steve Hedley – 07545-530526